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News and Events

 
Sep 8th, 2020

electric vehicle powertrain systems

Improving the efficiency and power density of electric vehicle powertrain systems is the focus of a partnership between UWindsor researchers and a leading global automotive supplier.

Dr. Ram Balachandar will conduct a $326k project — in collaboration with mobility technology company Magna International, the largest automotive supplier in North America — that aims to improve cooling systems for electric motors and power electronics while reducing costs.

As temperatures rise inside the power electronic converters and electric motors, their peak power rating, operational efficiency and power density are diminished. 

“This necessitates the need for improved thermal management and packaging design of the inverters and motors keeping stringent automotive cost targets,” Balachandar says.

Sep 4th, 2020

Taku Chitekeshe Posing

It’s always been Taku Chitekeshe’s dream to design aircrafts. 

The mechanical engineering student never thought one day he’d be flying them. 

Thanks to a partnership between UWindsor’s Faculty of Engineering and the Aeronautics Leadership Program housed in the university’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Chitekeshe is the first student specializing in aerospace engineering who has completed his Private Pilot’s License (PPL). 

“The first time I flew alone, I felt accomplished,” Chitekeshe says. “It has been intriguing to learn how aircrafts are designed, but after getting the experience to fly an airplane, my dream job would be to combine those two aspects — to design aircrafts and to test them.”

Sep 2nd, 2020

Human Lungs

A UWindsor researcher is developing a low-cost ventilator that can be assembled from off-the-shelf components and has almost no moving parts.

Jeff Defoe, a professor of mechanical engineering, will take a simple ventilator design from an initial concept to a working prototype. Dr. Defoe says he expects his model to cost approximately one-tenth the price of most current ventilators.

“The final design will be openly available to enable widespread adoption for manufacturing in case future waves of COVID-19 or other respiratory diseases require high levels of hospitalization in intensive care with ventilators,” he says.

Defoe will finalize the design using flow simulation tools that include human lung and chest cavity characteristics. When the design is proven in a simulated environment, a prototype will be constructed and tested on a medical-grade patient lung simulator device that provides accurate representations of adult pulmonary mechanics and the lung capacity of a typical adult patient.

Aug 26th, 2020

Arash Khabazipur in front of computer

Finding ways to make fossil fuels burn cleaner is the focus of a new research project by a doctoral candidate in UWindsor’s Faculty of Engineering.

Arash Khabazipur is looking at ways to interfere with soot formation by diluting fuel with gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen. Using an algorithm that replaces lab experiments with numerical code, he runs computer simulations to find permutations that result in reduced soot emissions.

“This research project directly addresses the environmental issues arising from hydrocarbon fossil fuel combustion,” Khabazipur said. “Canada and the U.S. are among the top fossil fuel consuming countries in the world, so this area of research is in intense demand.”

Khabazipur is among 107 UWindsor students who have received $6,000 research training grants in a recent funding call. His project is being funded by the University of Windsor and Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization that creates partnerships among Canadian academia, private industry, and government to provide research and training opportunities.

Aug 21st, 2020

Picture of Field

The University of Windsor’s student chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers has attracted international notice for its outstanding achievements.

The chapter will be recognized virtually in late fall by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) at its world conference, receiving an award in the association’s international division for hosting the Best Student Chapter Meeting, which included a panel session with industry professionals from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, CanWEA, and Chall.Eng. Corporation.

Aug 10th, 2020

Frank and Carolyn Ewasyshyn Electrical Engineering Suite

An injection of nearly $4.3 million in federal and industry funding will spur University of Windsor next–gen electric vehicle research conducted in collaboration with the Canadian auto industry.

A multidisciplinary team of University of Windsor researchers led by the Faculty of Engineering’s Dr. Narayan Kar has received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in the amount of $1.9 million with additional industry cash and in-kind investment of $2.4 million to develop lightweight, compact, aluminum–intensive induction motors for electric vehicles as well as motor testing technologies.

These high–efficiency, high–performance motors have the potential to significantly reduce costs and extend the driving range of electric cars to meet aggressive 2025 traction motor targets set by the U.S. government, automakers and energy companies.

Ford Motor Company of Canada, D&V Electronics and Nemak are partnering on and providing funds toward the research project that includes UWindsor experts in materials, electrical, mechanical, thermal and software engineering.

Jul 28th, 2020

Mitra Mirhassani

UWindsor Engineering professor Dr. Mitra Mirhassani has been recognized as one of Canada's top 20 women in cyber security. 

Mirhassani, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering, was honoured by IT World Canada (ITWC) for her innovative cyber security research and dedication to helping others better understand the function and connectivity of our devices.

She was chosen out of more than 170 nominations for women working in cyber security across a wide variety of organizations and roles, including CISOs, company founders, professors, directors and women holding numerous specialty positions in both the public and private sectors.

“What worries me most is the health and security of the devices that we build and buy,” says Mirhassani, who leads UWindsor’s Analog and Mixed Signal Research Lab.” There are many challenges in our way to understand the complexity of the process.” 

Mirhassani’s latest research includes the investigation of cybersecurity issues that arise when using electric vehicle fleets with battery charging infrastructure and improving the security of autonomous and connected vehicles.

Jul 9th, 2020

Windsor Riverfront

What is it about some communities that allows them to manage a pandemic and return to normalcy faster than others?

A UWindsor team led by engineering professor Edwin Tam will delve into that question with sweeping research into municipalities’ experiences under COVID-19. The research team will examine demographics, governance, infrastructure, and services to create a template to help Windsor and Essex County and other cities prepare for future pandemics.

“We hypothesize that specific municipal characteristics enhance a community’s resiliency,” said Dr. Tam. “Our overall goal is to assess if there are physical characteristics, demographic profiles, infrastructure, policies, and practices specific to a community that enhance its ability to withstand and overcome a pandemic.”

Put simply, he said: “We want to know what it is about a city that helps it combat the spread.”

Jun 24th, 2020

Attending the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer (RCE) marks a moment of sober reflection, professional contemplation, and of course, companionable joy for many engineers, particularly for those who are about to graduate from their engineering program. This year, 2020, is uniquely different because of our changed view of the challenges facing our global and local communities. The increased awareness of the devastating effects from climate change; the very immediate threats of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the renewed calls for social justice mean the new normal that will emerge will not be like the old normal. This is perhaps a very good thing: the old ways were in hindsight undeniably unsustainable. We as engineers - with our problem solving skills and commitment to society – must rise to the task of helping shape a world that is sustainable and just. 

This year, Camp 14 (Windsor), suspended its normally scheduled Rituals because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with that, our many graduates are unable to take their obligations and receive their token, the Canadian engineer’s “iron ring”. Contrary to common opinion, the Ritual and bestowing of the Iron Ring does not commemorate graduation. Historically, the original intent of the Ritual was to mark the new graduate’s journey into the professional career of an engineer, supported by those engineers who have already been on their journeys. As the Ritual closes in on its 100th year anniversary, this essence of the Ritual still holds true, but for many decades now, the Ritual has also welcomed professionals that have been educated and practiced from all over our world, and have then chosen to bring their global expertise to Canada. Our engineering community has grown through its diversity, and in return, Canadian engineers are well respected throughout the world. 

Jun 11th, 2020

The Faculty of Engineering has assembled an advisory group in preparation for remote teaching in the fall semester.

The Online Teaching Advisory Group (OTAG) will examine challenges with online teaching and learning in engineering and provide alternative recommendations to the Faculty Management Group (FMG). 

Issues under consideration include:

  • Alternatives to labs (videos, simulations, gamification, kits/activities at home, etc.)
  • Synchronous vs. asynchronous teaching (how to maintain consistency across the faculty)
  • Assessment and testing (online assessment and proctoring, non-exam-based alternative forms of assessment or some combination)
  • Equity and access (issues with students’ access to internet, their hardware as well as differences between student learners)
  • GA/TA (their roles and required training)
  • Lab technicians (their roles in online teaching support)
  • IT (hardware/software needs and support required)
  • CTL/OOL (needs and the best ways to utilize and liaise with these units)
  • Students (their voice and engagement)